The U.S. Supreme Court denied Alabama and 18 other states’ motion for leave to file a bill of complaint to block California and four other states from pursuing their climate change-based cases against fossil fuel companies. The plaintiff states had contended that the lawsuits “threaten not only our system of federalism and equal sovereignty among States, but our basic way of life.” They argued that the Court should exercise its original jurisdiction because there was no alternative forum in which they could seek relief. Justices Thomas, joined by Justice Alito, dissented from the denial. Justice Thomas wrote that because Congress had given the Court “exclusive” original jurisdiction over “all controversies between two or more States,” “our jurisdiction in this context would seem to be compulsory.”

19 states' motion to file a bill complaint to block other states from pursuing climate change lawsuits against energy companies.

Alabama v. California

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U.S. Supreme Court Rejected 19 States’ Attempt to Invoke Court’s Original Jurisdiction to Block Other States’ Climate Suits

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United States of America

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U.S. Supreme Court Rejected 19 States’ Attempt to Invoke Court’s Original Jurisdiction to Block Other States’ Climate Suits

Policy instrument

Economic sector